The Verdict Is In: Marketing Is Not To Blame For Murder
Frivolous NAACP Suit Starting On March
24th Remains
NEWTOWN, CT – The dismissal of yet another lawsuit
against the firearms industry further proves that marketing
is not to blame for murder. The Friday, March 7th summary
judgment (dismissal) of the California municipality's
lawsuit against the firearms industry is the latest evidence
that these baseless lawsuits cannot stand when reviewed by
an unbiased judge.
By granting the defendants motion for summary judgment, the
California judge acknowledged that the claims made against
the firearms manufacturers are not supported by any credible
evidence. The judge made this decision after reviewing thousands
of pages of "evidence" from those seeking to bankrupt
firearms manufacturers across the nation with their baseless,
junk lawsuits.
"This has been the trend since the City of Boston voluntarily
dropped its lawsuit against the industry for lack of proof
of wrongdoing. There's simply no evidence that the industry
is guilty of the baseless charges brought against it by trial
lawyers looking for their next payday," said Lawrence G. Keane,
vice president and general counsel for the National Shooting
Sports Foundation, Inc. (NSSF).
The NAACP's frivolous lawsuit scheduled to begin on
Monday, March 24th, in the Brooklyn courtroom of Judge Jack
Weinstein, makes claims identical to the ones that were recently
dismissed in California.
"It's hard to understand how this case can continue
when it's based on the same allegations a California
judge dismissed as unproven after three years of exhaustive,
comprehensive discovery," Keane said. "The NAACP's
claims are without basis in fact.
"It's unfortunate that organizations and municipalities
have chosen to sue the industry rather than work with it,
as the City of Boston did, to prevent crime, prevent accidents
and save lives. Enforcing existing laws is really a better
use of taxpayer money than filing expensive, baseless lawsuits
that will only be thrown out of court or overturned on appeal,"
Keane added.
In the paperwork requesting dismissal of its case against
the firearms industry, the City of Boston acknowledged that
the firearms industry as a whole is concerned with and committed
to the legal, safe and responsible sale and use of their products.
The city also acknowledged that the common goals it shares
with the firearms industry could best be reached through cooperation
and communication rather than expensive and time-consuming
litigation.
Congressional passage of the Protection In Lawful Commerce
In Arms Act would end these baseless lawsuits. "It's time
to pass this act to protect a law abiding industry from baseless,
politically motivated lawsuits," Keane said.
The bill has been introduced in the House with 243 original
co-sponsors, making its passage a virtual certainty. The outlook
in the Senate is a little less certain, although Keane seems
optimistic.
"I don't know how anyone can say they are pro-business and
in favor of common sense legal reform - and then not back
this bill. I encourage every taxpayer who is sick of these
frivolous lawsuits clogging our legal system to call their
senators and encourage them to vote for the Protection In
Lawful Commerce In Arms Act," he said.
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